The Indianapolis journal., 1887-11-29
WHIPPED AND HANDCUFFED
Disclosures Regarding Modes of Punish
ment at the Female Ref0rmatOry.
The Governor Makes an Investigation and Re-
ports that Unnecessary Cruelties Are Some
times Practiced in Furnishing Prisoners.

Since tie complaints OF the management Of the
Reformatory for Women were made by Mrs.
Humphres some days ago, and published in the
Journal. Governor Gray has been making an in
vsstigaton of the treatment OF prisoners at that
Institution on his own responsibility. His
method has been examination of the officers
and employees. and also of the inmates, the lat
ter in the absence of the officers. The evidence
was taken down by stenographer.
'.Did you fpd confirmation of Mrs Humph-
ries's charges" asked Journal reporter of the
Governor.
'.No. not directly; but I found some usages in
vogue which l thought had better be discontin-
ned. The usual methods of punishment in the
benal department are hipping and Handwriting.
The whipping is generally done with
a strap, and sometimes with switch
l one girl who had been
strapped two days before who had on her
arms and back black and blue stripes caused
nv the blows. OF course it does not take heavy
blows TO make such marks on woman, espec-
tally with close-ftting garments, but l think
such punishment would not meet with public
approval. The prisoners are not stripped when
whipped. and the whipping is done by women,
but advised that it be not resorted to until
other punishment had failed. Some women are
very hard to manage They scream at the top
of their voices when put in confinement, stop up
key-holes and water-pipes with paper and rags,
and resort to other means to cause annoyance.
One of them persisted in turning the gas,
and when told that she would kill herself and
others replied that she did not care, that she
wanted to die. In such some punishment
must be resorted to, but / doubt If whipping
does much good. The other mode OF punish
ment was putting the prisoner in cell. passing
han de rrE fha nd hnr2
them outside. Some inmates testified that they
had been kept in this position for two three
days, though allowed to lie down night This
struck me as too much like the Chinese stocks.
The officers said they got their method from
Joliet. advised the superinten6ent tina. it
would be better to have secure cells and try the
effects of solitary confinement That has been
tried at many places. and there few prison
who do not yield to it in three or four days"
Are there other modes of punishment in use
therel"
Eyes, but not so Objectionable. There was
one thing that did not have time to inquire
into fully. 1t is said that last summer. when
the girls were put to work in the garden, pasters
were put over their mouths to keep them from
talking. ] think there is too much talking
done. for the good of discipline. by the officers.
They ought to give their directions. and in case
they not obeyed, report the offender for pun
ishment instead of scolding her. One of the
greatest troubles is that women object to being
governed by women. They would submit a
discipline under men that they complain of n
tinually under One woman. life
daughters come and stay over night with her
casonally. l reminded her that she in a
prison, not clearinghouse. had to impress
that fact on several. because they did not
TO realize that they were in a penitentiary."
Are these modes of punishment in in
the reformatory department also"
mo: have been speaking of the penal de-
partmeut They have done some whipping
the reformatory side, but the principal punish
ment is what they call the box. It is a wooden
structure that serves a dark cell"
Did you find anything else Objectionable in
the manag cement OF the institution
Il There was one thing that considered gross
<necircsEce. There is short fight of steps IN
the bathroom, the lower OF which is loose.
Several persons have fallen account of it's
turning, and recently a Mrs. Morton. of this
city. who about to be confined, fell it and
bruised herself badly. Her limb has been kept
plaster for about two weeks DIR. Chambers
saws that no bones broken, but they have a
stretcher on the limb to prevent it shortening
from the effects of the fall / directed them to
repair this at once. there Is excuse for
leaving step in that condition. 1 walked down
over It and found that it turned unless care was
taken to prevent it"
Ibid the board of managers know of these
modes of punishment" =
II have Dot yet learned. Mrs. Hendricks is
away, and have not seen the other members
of the board"